Health dept to make brothers to quit tobacco through Rakhi vows

Sisters would tie rakhis on the wrists of their brothers and administer them an oath to quit tobacco. In its effort to rein in tobacco consumption, health department has declared the last day of every month as ‘Tobacco Dry Day’.

Looking to cash in on the festival of Raksha Bandhan, the health department has asked sisters in the state to urge their brothers to sign an oath to give up tobacco use.

Health minister Rajendra Rathore on Tuesday launched the ‘Tambaku Mukt- Shapath Yukt’ campaign for Raksha Bandhan at the circuit house in Churu. Under the campaign, he said, sisters would tie rakhis on the wrists of their brothers with the message ‘Tambaku Mukt, Shapath Yukt’ and administer an oath to quit tobacco.

Satyen Chaturvedi, executive director, NGO Rajasthan Voluntary Health Association, said this campaign would bring in positive results, as the festival is very important in Rajasthan as well as the country.

“Generally, brothers on this day do not refuse their sisters’ demands, so they would certainly fulfil the vow of quitting tobacco,” he said.

In its effort to rein in tobacco consumption in the state, the health department has declared the last day of every month ‘ tobacco dry day’, which has been successfully implemented for the last two months as pan shops kept their establishments closed. Also, under a new law, all new employees of the government have to sign an affidavit saying they do not consume tobacco in any form.

Govind Singh, a private firm employee who smokes said, “If my sister asks me to quit tobacco while tying rakhi then I will certainly quit, as she is asking me do so for my good health”. Similarly, Kundanmal Tiwari, a businessman, said, “I have been planning to quit it, but could not succeed, but if my sister asks me then I will certainly quit.”